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Pretty much everything dejoha said. I don't particularly care if the ground is level or flat when I'm hanging. I can avoid the catabatic wind/air by staying out of valleys as well as avoiding the brunt of any bad weather by not staying on peaks. Site selection can protect me from the worst of the weather while properly pitching my tarp will take care of the rest. Carry enough water for at least a half day (including all cooking and cleaning needs) into camp each night. Enjoy the solitude and the aspiring views from the hammock.

*Heaven best have trees, because I plan to lounge for eternity.

Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement. - Mark Twain

I chose not to post a vote, as I find the wind conditions you correlate to terrain seem to not apply to the mountains. Most of my hikes are in the Whites. My perfect campsite is a place unviewable from the trail, adjacent to a flowing stream or waterfall, and has a fallen tree or boulder to sit on. Perfectly spaced trees, of course. I don't pick anywhere near the tops of mountains (too windy).

The hillside will be warmer because of the light wind. The wind is sometimes created by thermals coming from the valley floor, they create the wind but the heat as well (sort of). So I would say that no, the hill side wind would not negate the higher temperatures. Its very true what Oldgringo said about ancient peoples. They were way smarter then we give them credit for. Water is great, but it is also going to be responsible for cooler temps. I know I'm always going to be warm enough for where I'm going, so sometimes I just go for the most awesome hang spot, just because we can.

You don't sleep on the ground at home, why would you expect me to out here?

Set up to match the objective. John Muir once climbed up into a tall fir tree on the side of a mountain to watch/weather a blizzard. Claimed he was warm and dry, and had a hard time keeping from falling asleep from the bows rocking in the wind.

If the weather or your objectives change, you've got a hammock! Move.

It's not like you're tied down to the ground and hammered in with half a dozen stakes.

If I limited myself to camping close to a water source I would have many awesome campsites that never happened. I camp where ever looks the most new and exciting . I like seeing what mother nature can throw at me, being comfortable is what my house is for.

I didn't vote, either, because, as others said, it depends on the weather.

In Summer, I may seek coolness by hanging on a hill top where wind is blowing, or in an area with steep valleys I may camp at the bottom where I can take advantage of the cold air drainage phenomenon.

In Winter, I'll likely avoid valleys and hilltops and instead look for areas sheltered from the wind. In Spring, or when thunderstorms are likely, I'll avoid hilltops due to lightning and valleys that drain a large area due to flooding.

However, if the weather is nice, I may just pick a cliffline for a nice view, or if the kids are along I may pick a valley so they can play in the creek.

Bottom line, my campsite selection just depends on the situation.

--Scott <><

"I fish because I love to; because I love the environs where trout are found, which are invariably beautiful... because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate, my fishing is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because trout do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to quietude and humility and endless patience...." --Robert Traver